Title: Wild Ride Series: Rookie Rebels #9 Author: Kate Meader
Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Hockey Romance, Single Mom Older Woman/Younger Man, He Falls First Release Date: March 26, 2024
BLURB
Chicago Rebels hockey player Dex O’Malley has been a naughty boy … again.
Only his latest stunt isn’t quite like when he was caught with his pants down at a nightclub or was cited for drag-racing on Lake Shore Drive or even that time he said a few critical things about his teammates on a hockey podcast. Oops. This time, Dex is in real trouble, the kind that could get him kicked off the team and out of the league. And that cannot happen. Hockey is the only thing he’s ever been good at. The only thing he cares about. He’ll do whatever it takes to rehab his rep, even if it means cleaning up dog poop and suffering the steely-eyed disapproval of his new no-nonsense “boss” at the animal shelter, Ashley Adams.
Ashley has enough on her plate between her low-paying job, her high-maintenance family, and a love life she’s trying to resurrect after her divorce. She’s already mom to an amazing nine-year-old; the last thing she needs is mothering a celebrity volunteer with more money than sense. But the troublemaking f-boy needs Ashley to sign off on his good deeds so he can get back to what he does best: lighting up lamps both on and off the ice. And while a guy like that could never interest her mind, it seems her body is not on the same page. Sure, Dex O’Malley is too young, too hot, too flighty for Ashley to take seriously, but maybe a brief ride on the wild side might fit the bill …
Only that’s not enough for Dex. What happens when this notorious player decides the older, single mom is the hottest woman he’s ever met and that he wants to light her lamp … forever?
This is where I admit I have most of the earlier Rookie Rebels books but haven’t yet read them….. so yeah, picking a book late in the series is very much me!!!
I loved Dexter & Ashley (& Willa!!) There was so much personal growth in this story – for all 3 of them – and it was fabulous to read.
Dex had so much emotional baggage from how he grew up and then seeing his past in his present, it would be a lot to deal with for anyone never mind a guy who still hadn’t made any kind of peace with his past and held on to some sense of misplaced guilt.
Ashley broke my heart a little. She was awesome but couldn’t see it as she’d had Willa young, kinda grew up with her daughter, was in a marriage that neither party was really invested in and when it ended her ex said some pretty horrible things. This lass needed someone who ‘saw her’ and thought she was as awesome as she was….. enter Dex!
Their initial meeting didn’t go so well but in all honesty, Dex needed someone like Ash who wouldn’t let him do what he wanted and who didn’t feed his ego. She made him think about his actions and their consequences!
Willa, oh sweet little Willa. She was a wee sweetheart and I understood how Dex fell for her as hard as he did for her momma. Willa was an older soul in little girl form but was so good and caring. She saw the good in Dex and wasn’t afraid to tell him what she believed.
This was a really great read. I felt fully invested in these three becoming a family – Along with Dexter’s teammates, their families and Dexter’s remaining family.
I’m definitely gonna be going back to read the rest of the players stories.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
AUTHOR BIO
Originally from Ireland, USA Todaybestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, fire hose, or a hockey stick, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary romance with big-hearted guys and strong heroines – and heroes – who can match their men quip for quip.
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
― Stephen King
My favourite genre is PNR - yep, more than happy to admit that I’m a bit of a #parawhores...... but small town is a very close second!!! In saying that, I’ll read and review a real mix of genres - from the better known authors to new-to-me authors and everything in between.
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Tracy 🖤💜🖤
Book Loving Pixies 
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